Sighting and relating device for x-ray tube head

ABSTRACT

Apparatus to maintain a human head in a fixed position in combination with X-ray film cassette holding means and X-ray tube head sighting means arranged to permit periodic exposure of X-ray film at a prescribed angle and distance. The film holding means comprises a film cassette holder movable arcuately about a reference point positionable to substantially correspond to the center of the dental arc of a patient&#39;&#39;s mouth, said holder being movable radially relative to the reference point to position film at a prescribed distance and in a prescribed angular relationship to a patient&#39;&#39;s head. The X-ray tube head sighting apparatus comprises a target positionable in a prescribed angular relationship to a patient&#39;&#39;s head and a sighting tube secured to the X-ray tube head such that the X-ray film cassette and the Xray tube head are accurately positionable in prescribed locations on opposite sides of a head.

United States Patent 1 1 Phillips SIGHTING AND RELATING DEVICE FOR X-RAY TUBE HEAD Inventor: Willis Paul Phillips, 200 E. Rentz St., Weatherford, Tex.

1/1939 Desseuer 250/61.5

Primary Examiner.1ames W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-B. C. Anderson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard E. Moore; Gerald G. Crutsinger "I ABSTRACT Apparatus to maintain a human head in a fixed position in combination with X-ray film cassette holding means and X-ray tube head sighting means arranged to permit periodic exposure of X-ray film at a pre-' scribed angle and distance. The film holding means comprises a film cassette holder movable arcuately about a reference point positionable to substantially correspond to the center of the dental arc of a patients mouth, said holder being movable radially relative to the reference point to position film at a prescribed distance and in a prescribed angular relationship to a patients head. The X-ray tube head sighting apparatus comprises a target positionable in a prescribed angular relationship to a patients head and a sighting tube secured to the X-ray tube head such that the X-ray film cassette and the X-ray tube head are accurately positionable in prescribed locations on opposite sides of a head.

Feb. 5, 1974 a PATENIEU FEB 5:924.

SHEET 7 0F 8 PATENTEU FEB 5 I974 smears SIGHTING AND RELATING DEVICE FOR X-RAY TUBE HEAD BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Machines heretofore devised for taking dental X-rays have comprised general purpose machines, requiring a highly skilled operator for making cephalometric shots, or special purpose cephalometer devices the use of which has been substantially limited to taking only a specific type of X-rays.

Use of cephalometric X-ray devices of the type heretofore devised has been impractical in the average dentists office. The cost of such machines has rendered the use thereof economically unfeasible fordoctors engaged in general practice of dentistry. In addition, the physical configuration of the apparatus has generally required permanent installation and has occupied more space than was justifiable in offices of general practitioners.

A long felt need exists for inexpensive attachments for use on a general purpose X-ra'y device to provide required accuracy while permitting use thereof by a technician to produce cephalometric X-rays as prescribed by a physician.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION I have developed attachments for use in combination with general purpose X-ray apparatus for adapting same for producing cephalometric X-rays. v The attachments comprise a cassette film positioning holder for supporting X-ray film such that the film is movable arcuately about a reference point for positioning film at a desired distance and at a desired angle relative to the reference point, and an X-ray tube head sighting and relating apparatus to facilitate, positioning the X-ray tube in a desired relation to the film and the subject.

The cassette film positioning holder comprises a substantially horizontally disposed platform to which a film support is secured for movement circumferentially and radially in horizontal directions relative to a vertical reference axis. The film is movable vertically relative to the film support and is movable circumferentially about vertical and horizontally disposed axis on the film support.

The X-ray tube head sighting and relating apparatus comprises a head restraint having distance gauge apparatus secured thereto calibrated to indicate the distance from a reference point on the head restraint to a reference point on the X-ray tube head. A sighting device comprising an aiming tube secured to the X-ray tube head is employed for aligning the X-ray tube with a precise point on the head restraint.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an X-ray film positioning holder and X-ray tube head sighting and relating apparatus for use with general purpose X-ray apparatus for producing a panoramic set of cephalometric X-rays.

Another object of the invention is to provide an X-ray film positioning holder and X-ray tube head sighting device particularly adapted to facilitate positioning the X-ray tube, the subject, and the film in a precise relationship by a technician as prescribed by a doctor without requiring personal supervision by the doctor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an X-ray film positioning holder and X-ray tube head sighting device which is portable for use with general purpose X-ray devices permitting storage of the apparatus at a location remote from the X-ray device.

A further object is to provide an X-ray film positioning holder and an X-ray tube head sighting device which is inexpensive to produce rendering the use thereof economically feasible for doctors engaged in DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention are annexed hereto so that the invention may be better and more fully understood, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of an X-ray tube head in relation to the film positioning holder and the X-ray tube head sighting and relating device;

FIG. II'is a plan view of the film positioning holder and the head restraint;

FIG. II-A is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of locking means of the film frame;

FIG. III is a side elevational view looking in the direction of arrows IIIIII in FIG. II;

FIG. IV is a front elevational view looking in the di rection of arrows IV-IV in FIG. II;

FIG. V is a side elevational view looking in the direction of arrows VV in FIG. II;

FIG. V1 is an elevational view of the rear of the appa ratus looking in the direction of arrows VI-VI in FIG. II;

FIG. VII is a cross-sectional view taken along .line VII-VII of FIG. IV:

FIG. VIII is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. II;

FIG. IX is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. II;

FIG. X is an exploded perspective view of tensioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. IX;

FIG. XI is a cross-sectional view taken along line XL-XI of FIG. I;

FIG. XII is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIIXII of FIG. XI;

FIG. XIII is a cross-sectional view-taken along line XIII-XIII of FIG. XI;

FIG. XIV is an elevational view looking in the direction of arrows along line XIVXIV of FIG. XI;

FIG. XV is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG. I;

FIG. XVI is a fragmentary perspective view of the hook end of measuring apparatus;

FIG. XVII is an elevational view of an X-ray film shield for exposing one-half of the film;

FIG. XVIII is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. XVII;

FIG. XIX is an elevational view of an X-ray film shield for exposing one-fourth of the film;

FIG. XX is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. III, of the film positioning holder arranged for taking a posterior-anterior exposure, the head restraint being detached;

FIG. XXI is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. XX;

FIG. XXII is an exploded perspective view of a moditied form of the sighting device; and

FIG. XXIII is an exploded perspective view of a chin rest.

Numeral references are employed to designate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I of the drawing the numeral 1 generally designates an X-ray tube head of the type conventionally employed by dentists pivotally connected by pins 2 to a U-shaped bracket comprising downward extending legs 3 and 4 joined by a horizontally disposed upper member 5. A stud 6 extends upwardly from the central portion of member and is mounted in a swivel sleeve 7 extending downwardly from a support member 8. Support member 8 is connected by a parallel linkage comprising upper and lower links 9 and 10 to a swivel l1 pivotally connected by a pin 12 to hanger 14 secured to a wall 15 or other suitable support structure.

A cassette film positioning holder generally designated by numeral 16 and a sighting and relating device generally designated by numeral 18 are secured to suitable support structure such as the arm of the dental chair or other fixed or portable apparatus.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, holder 16 and sighting apparatus 18 are secured to a portable table 20. As best illustrated in FIGS. I, II and VII table 20 comprises a tabletop 22 constructed of wood or other suitable material and preferably covered by a layer 24 of vinyl plastic or other suitable impervious material secured by bolts 26 t0 horizontally disposed members 28;, 29 and 30. Members 28, 29, and 30 are secured together in a substantially U-shaped configuration and have downwardly extending legs 32 and 34 secured thereto, preferably in a unitary construction formed by bending a tubular member.

Legs 32 and 34 are preferably hollow having a passage extending therethrough into which upwardly extending stanchions 36 and 38 are slidably disposed. Legs 32 and 34 preferably have threaded apertures formed therein into which set screws 32a and 34a extend to frictionally engage stanchions 36 and 38 permitting vertical adjustment of legs 32 and 34 vertically relative to stanchions 36 and 38.

stanchions 36 and 38 are connected by a brace member 40 having opposite ends welded or otherwise secured to stanchions 36 and 38. Sleeves 42a and 42b, slidably disposed on stanchions 36 and 38, respectively, are secured to opposite ends of brace member 42 and have set screws 42c and 42d extending therethrough.

Lower ends of stanchions 36 and 33 are secured to a suitable base structure preferably having an open side below the horizontally disposed member 29 adjacent the front edge of table 22.

In the particular embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. I the base comprises horizontally dis posed members 44 secured to lower ends of stanchions 36 and 38, forming substantially L-shaped members, having casters 45 on opposite ends thereof.

It should be readily apparent that table 20 can be rolled across a floor from a suitable storage area to dental chair, occupied by a subject to be X-rayed, and subsequently removed after X-rays have been taken.

The film positioning holder is illustrated in FIGS. XX and XXII of the drawing, the X-ray tube head sighting apparatus and the head restraint being disconnected therefrom to more clearly illustrate details of construction of the film positioning holder and to illustrate use thereof for producing panoramic type dental X-rays.

A platform 50 has an opening extending therethrough for receiving a bolt 52 which extends through an aperture formed in a central portion of the table 22 for securing the film positioning holder to table 20. As best illustrated in FIG. XXI platform 50 is preferably of substantially rectangular configuration having a cut-out portion 52 forming projections 52a and 5212 between which the neck of a subject H is positionable.

An arcuate groove 54 is formed in platform 50 and extends circumferentially about aperture 56 through which a stud 58 on chin rest 60 extends. As best illustrated in FIG. IX groove 54 comprises a dove-tail type mortise having downwardly diverging sides 54a and 54b.

As best illustrated in FIGS. XX and XXI a shoulder 62, comprising a segment of a disc, extends upwardly from the surface of platform 50 and has a center of curvature which coincides with the center of curvature of groove 54.

Shoulder 62 has a notch 63 fonned therein into which a complementary shaped portion 64 of chin rest 60 extends. Chin rest 60 is secured to platform 50 by a stud 58 extending through aperture 56 formed in platform 50 by a threaded knob 58a.

An elongated member 66 having an arcuate surface 66a on one end thereof has an arcuate tenon 68, having a dove-tail configuration, secured to the underside thereof. Tenon 68 and arcuate surface 66:: are arranged such that tenon 68 is movable through groove 54 in platform 50 as arcuate surface 66a slides along the curved outer surface of shoulder 62.

Member 66 has a dove-tail mortise 70, having downwardly diverging side walls 70a and 70b, through which a slide element 72 is movable.

As best illustrated in FIGS. IX, X, and XXI, the arcuate tenon 68 extending downwardly from the lower surface of member 66 is recessed to accommodate clamp element 74 having a shoulder 74a arranged to frictionally engage surface 54b of mortise 54 when bolt 75 extending into threaded aperture 74b is tightened. Member 66 has passages 76 and 77 formed therein to receive bolt 75.

After tenon 68 is moved into mortise 54, bolt 75 is rotated urging shoulder 74a against surface 54b for controlling force required to move member 66 arcuately about shoulder 62.

As illustrated in FIGS. V, VIII and XXI, slide 72 which extends into the dove-tail mortise 70, extending longitudinally of member 62, has a width which is less than space between lower edges of surfaces 72a and 72b but greater than the spacing between upper edges of surfaces 72a and 72b.

- A horizontally disposed plate 78 is pivotally secured by a pin 80 to slide 72. A screw 82 extends through an aperture in slide 72 in spaced apart relation from pin 80 and extends through an arcuate passage 84 formed in plate 78. A threaded knob 82a engages screw 82 for drawing slide 72 into frictional engagement with the lower surface of plate 78 while drawing edges of slide 72 into frictional engagement with surfaces 72a and 72b in the mortise formed in member 66. Thus, tighten-- ing knob 82a on screw 82 controls force required for moving slide 72 relative to member 66 and for controlling force required to pivot plate 78 relative to slide 72 about pin 80.

Plate 78 has indicia 79 calibrated in degrees spaced about arcuate passage 84 to indicate the angular relationship between the centerlines of slide 72 and plate 78.

Bars 86 and 87 are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation adjacent opposite edges of plate 78 and have aligned apertures formed therein through which screws 88 and 89 extend. Screws 88 and 89 extend through apertures in lower ends of upwardly extending support arms 90 and 91. Each of the support arms 90 and 91 is preferably an extruded member comprising a substantially flat elongated portion 90a having spaced laterally extending ribs 90b, 90c and 90d formed thereon defining parallel slots 90e and 90f adjacent the edge thereof.

Apertures are formed in bars 86 and 87 in spaced apart relation from the apertures through which screws 88 and 89 extend for receiving bolts 92 and 93 for pivotally securing the lower ends of links 94 and 95 thereto.

Lock nuts 102 and 103 and friction washers 104 and 105 are urged together for clamping against surfaces of arms 90 and 91 by tightening wing nuts 106 and 107.

As best illustrated in FIG. VIII, it should be readily apparent that arms 90 and 91 pivot about screws 88 and 89 when wing nuts 106 and 107 are loosened permitting movement of links 98 and 99 vertically along arms 90 and 91. Indicia 108 on arms 90 and 91 are calibrated in degrees and indicate the angular relationship of arms 90 and 91 relative to a vertical plane.

As best illustrated in FIG. V,-a transversely extending brace 109 has opposite ends secured by suitable means such as rivets to flanges 90d of support arms 90 and 91 v adjacent the upper end thereof.

As best illustrated in FIGS. V and VIII, a post 110, having lugs 111 extending upwardly therefrom, is secured to the central portion of brace 109 as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As best illustrated in FIGS. XX, XXI and XXII alignment means comprising a bar 112 having an aperture 113 extending through an end thereof and pivotally connected by a screw 114 and nut 115 to lugs 111 on the upper end of post 110.

Alignment bar 112 is maintained perpendicularly to the plane of the film to expedite alignment of the X-ray tube head perpendicular to the film and facilitates positioning the head of the patient in a desired relation thereto. I

As best illustrated in FIG. VIII a film cassette C is maintained in a-desired position by frame members 116 and 118. Each of the framemembers 116 and 118 has passages or slots 119 and 120 formed therein. As will be hereinafter more fully explained, passage 119 receives edges of cassette C and passage receives edges of a shield holder 122 (see FIGS. XVII, XVIII and XIX) having a shield 124 or 124' secured thereto.

Shield holder 122 is preferably constructed ofa suitable material which is transparent to X-rays while shields 124 and 124 are constructed of a material which is not transparent to-X-rays. It should be readily apparent that, when shield holder 122 is positioned in slot 120 in frame members 116 and 118, only a portion of the film is exposed permitting reorientation of the shield 124 for subsequent exposure of a different portion of the film.

The lower frame member 118 is secured to support arms 90 and 91. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. II-A, each of the frame members 116 and 118 has a lug 117 secured to an edge thereof and arranged for movement through channels between flanges 90b and 900 of arms 90 and 91. Set screws 117' are arranged to engage lugs 1 17 for locking upper and lower frame members 116 and 118 at desired elevations along the length of arms 90 and 91.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that frame members 116 and 1 18 are positionable in desired locations along the length of arms 90 and 91. The Cassette C carried by arms 90 and 91 can be adjusted relative to a vertical plane by loosening wing nuts 106 and 108 allowing arms 90 and 91 to pivot about pins 88. By rotating knob 82a plate 78 can be moved relative to member 66 which is in turn movable arcuately about a vertical axis aligned with aperture 56 formed in platform 50 as has been hereinbefore explained.

Sighting and relating device, generally designated by the numeral 18, is best illustrated in FIGS. I-VII.

Referring specifically to FIGS. II and VII connector further has an arcuate tenon 132 extending down-- wardly from the lower surface thereof into the dove-tail mortise 54 formed in platform 50. Tenon 132 is recessed to accommodate a clamp element 74' arranged to frictionally engage the surface 54b of mortise 54 when bolt 75 in passage 76' is tightened.

Connector plate has surfaces 130a and 130b arranged to engage surfaces 66a and 66b respectively on member 66 for aligning elements on the sighting and relating device in right angle relation to the cassette film holder as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Connector plate 130 has elongated pedestals 134 and 136 pivotally connected by bolts 135 and 137, respectively, to the upper surface thereof. A cover plate 138 extends across upper surfaces of pedestals 134 and 136 and is secured thereto by bolts 135, 137 and 139.

As best illustrated in FIGS. II and VII ends of pedestals 134 and 136 extend outwardly from edges 130a and 130b of connector plate 130 for bridging member 66 and have upwardly extending arms 140 and 142 secured thereto.

As best illustrated in FIG. III, arms 140 and 142 have substantially U-shaped slots formed therein, legs 142a and 142b of said U-shaped slot being arranged to receive ear plugs. Ear plugs 144 have a threaded stud formed thereon for receiving wing nuts 145. Bar plugs 144 are positionable in either leg 142a or leg 142b of the slot formed in arm 142. I V

As best illustrated in FIGS. 11, IV and VII a spacer block 146 extends upwardly from connector plate 130 and has a stanchion 148 secured thereto by suitable means, such as screws and spaced brace members 150 and 151. Brace members 150 and 151 have recessed areas formed therein and have opposite ends of hollow tube 152 secured thereto.

Pedestals 134 and 136 have anchor members 1541 secured thereto to which oppositely threaded rods 155 and 156 are attached. A turnbuckle 158 threadedly engages the ends of rods 155 and 156 and extends through tube 152.

Tube 152 has an enlarged flange 160 formed on an end thereof which has threaded apertures formed therein in which adjustment screws 161 are disposed.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that rotation of turnbuckle 158 moves anchor members 154 in opposite directions causing pedestal members 134 and 136 to pivot about bolts 135 and 137, respectively, for moving ear plugs 144 in opposite directions for positioning the ear plugs in the ears of a patient.

As illustrated in FIG. III stanchion 148 has a slotted bolt 162 secured thereto such that an elongated pointer 163 is positionable adjacent a desired location on the head of the patient for establishing a reference point readily identifiable in X-rays. Pointer 163 is secured in position by a lock nut 164.

Stanchion 14-8 has an aperture 148b formed therein through which a rod 166 extends. Rod 166 has an elongated member 168 secured to the end thereof positionable adjacent the bridge of patients nose to facilitate maintaining the head of the patient in a desired position.

Rod 166 extends through a grommet 168 secured to a hanger 169 pivotally secured to a lug 170, which is bolted or otherwise secured to stanchion 148. Knob 171 is secured to hanger 169 and is arranged such that rotation of knob 171 rotates hanger 169 moving elongated member 168 in a vertical direction to facilitate positioning same adjacent the bridge of a patients nose. Rod 168 is movable longitudinally through the grommet 168 and may be detachably secured in a desired position by lock nut 172.

The upper portion of stanchion 148 is deflected to form a substantially horizontally disposed leg 148a arranged to extend above the head of a patient and substantially equidistant between ear plugs 144.

Horizontally disposed leg 14811 has a base member 175 secured thereto by a bolt and wing nut 176 as illustrated in FIGS. III and IV. Upwardly extending lugs 177 are formed on base member 177. A container 178, secured between lugs 177, encloses a spring urged reel upon which a flexible calibrated tape 179, having a hook 179a on the end thereof, is wound. Tape 179 is preferably calibrated in feet and inches or centimeters as desired.

Tape 179 is calibrated for indicating the distance from a central axis or reference point, for example, the center line of the aperture through which bolt 176 extends, to the focal point of X-ray tube head generally designated by numeral 1 in FIG. I of the drawing.

Suitable target apparatus, such as tube 180 extending into a hollow cylinder 181 secured between lugs 177, is mounted such that the axis thereof lies in a vertical plane passing through the axis of ear plugs 144. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing a flashlight 182, having batteries and a bulb providing a source of light, extends into the cylinder 181 such that a beam of light 183 is emitted through tube 180.

Sighting apparatus illustrated in FIGS. XI-XIV is secured by a U-bolt 185 to the sleeve 7 carrying X-ray tube head 1.

The sighting apparatus comprises a hanger 186 secured to U-bolt 185 and having a tube 188 pivotally secured thereto by a bolt 190. Tube 188 has threaded apertures formed in the walls thereof adjacent opposite ends through which centering screws 192 extend. Ends of centering screws 192 engage outer walls of a sighting tube 195 axially aligned with tube which emits the beam of light 183.

Tube 195 is positioned vertically above the aperture of X-ray tube head 1 through which an X-ray beam is emitted adistance equal to the distance of tube 180 above ear plugs 1441. As illustrated in FIGS. XI and XV an eyelet 196 is secured to U-bolt permitting attachment of hook 179a on calibrated tape 179 for indicating the distance from the focal point of X-ray tube head 1 to a central point between ear plugs 144.

The operation and function of the apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows:

For adapting a general purpose X-ray tube head 1 for taking cephlometric X-rays the sighting tube is secured relative to X-ray tube head 1 by attaching U-bolt 185 as hereinbefore described and illustrated in FIGS. XI-XIV of the drawing. Sighting tube 195 is adjusted such that the axis thereof is parallel to the beam 200 of X-rays emitted from the tube head.

The hook 179a on the end of calibrated tape 179 is attached to eyelet 196, as hereinbefore described, and tube head 1 and table 20, carrying cassette film holder 16 and relating device for the subject 18, are positioned in a predetermined relationship which is readily determinable by viewing the calibrated tape 17 9.

The subject is then seated with his head positioned substantially as illustrated in FIG. III of the drawing. Turnbuckle 158 is rotated moving ear plugs 144 toward the ears of the subject.

Lock nut 172 is loosened permitting longitudinal movement of rod 166 positioning elongated member 168 adjacent the bridge of the nose of the patient.

The film cassette holder C is then positionable at a desired angular relationship to the head I-I of the subject.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that the apparatus hereinbefore described is relatively simple to operate and is capable of being employed by a technician for accurately positioning a film cassette C relative to the subject H and the X-ray tube head 1.

It should also be readily apparent that the apparatus hereinbefore described is particularly adapted for positioning a subject, film and X-ray tube head in prescribed locations for taking X-rays at different times to facilitate comparison of X-rays with those taken previously to expedite-the determination of a patients progress by the physician.

The foregoing description has been limited to a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be readily apparent that other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic concept thereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Sighting and relating apparatus for an X-ray tube head, a human head and X-ray film comprising, an X-ray tube head; means to movably support the tube head; a sighting tube having axially aligned openings at opposite ends thereof; means to secure said sighting tube to the tube head such that the longitudinal axis of the sighting tube is substantially parallel to an X-ray beam emitted from the tube head; head restraint means to restrain movement of a human head positioned in spaced relation from said tube head; a target tube; means to secure said target tube to said head restraint; calibrated means connectable between said head restraint and said tube head arranged to indicate distance therebetween; a film holder; means to movably secure said film holder to said head restraint; and means secured to said target tube to cause emission of a beam of light along an axis coinciding with the axis of the sighting tube.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the calibrated means comprises a flexible tape having indicia spaced along the length thereof; and means to detachably secure an end of said tape to said tube head.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said film holder comprises, frame means adapted to support X-ray film; support arms secured to said frame means; a plate; means to pivotally secure said support arms to said plate; and means to movably secure said plate relative to said head restraint.

4. The combination called for in claim 3 wherein the means to secure the plate relative to the head restraint comprises a platform having an arcuate groove formed therein; an elongated member having a tenon thereon movable through said arcuate groove; and connector means to secure said plate to said elongated member, said connector means being adapted to permit movement of said plate longitudinally of said elongated member.

5. An X-Ray film holder comprising a general frame;

support means on said frame; an elongated member; pivot means to secure said elongated member to said support means, said pivot means being positionable such that the elongated member is pivotable about a vertical axis passing between the jawbones of a human head; a plate; means to secure said plate to said elongated member such that said plate is movable longitudinally of said elongated member; filmsupport means; hinge means secured between said film support means and said plate means, said hinge means beingarranged to permit movement of said film support means about a horizontal axis.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the means to secure the plate to the elongated member comprises: a slide element; interengaging means between said slide element and said elongated member; and means to pivotally secure said plate to said slide element.

7. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said alignment bar to said film support means.

support means. 

1. Sighting and relating apparatus for an X-ray tube head, a human head and X-ray film comprising, an X-ray tube head; means to movably support the tube head; a sighting tube having axially aligned openings at opposite ends thereof; means to secure said sighting tube to the tube head such that the longitudinal axis of the sighting tube is substantially parallel to an X-ray beam emitted from the tube head; head restraint means to restrain movement of a human head positioned in spaced relation from said tube head; a target tube; means to secure said target tube to said head restraint; calibrated means connectable between said head restraint and said tube head arranged to indicate distance therebetween; a film holder; means to movably secure said film holder to said head restraint; and means secured to said target tube to cause emission of a beam of light along an axis coinciding with the axis of the sighting tube.
 2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the calibrated means comprises a flexible tape having indicia spaced along the length thereof; and means to detachably secure an end of said tape to said tube head.
 3. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said film holder comprises, frame means adapted to support X-ray film; support arms secured to said frame means; a plate; means to pivotally secure said support arms to said plate; and means to movably secure said plate relative to said head restraint.
 4. The combination called for in claim 3 wherein the means to secure the plate relative to the head restraint comprises a platform having an arcuate groove formed therein; an elongated member having a tenon thereon movable through said arcuate groove; and connector means to secure said plate to said elongated member, said connector means being adapted to permit movement of said plate longitudinally of said elongated member.
 5. An X-Ray film holder comprising a general frame; support means on said frame; an elongated member; pivot means to secure said elongated member to said support means, said pivot means being positionable such that the elongated member is pivotable about a vertical axis passing between the jawbones of a human head; a plate; means to secure said plate to said elongated member such that said plate is movable longitudinally of said elongated member; film support means; hinge means secured between said film support means and said plate means, said hinge means being arranged to permit movement of said film support means about a horizontal axis.
 6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the means to secure the plate to the elongated member comprises: a slide element; interengaging means between said slide element and said elongated member; and means to pivotally secure said plate to said slide element.
 7. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said film support means comprises: an upwardly extending support arm; and upper and lower frame means on said support arm engageable with upper and lower surfaces of a film cassette, said hinge means being secured to a lower end of said support arm.
 8. The combination called for in claim 7 with the addition of means to secure the upper frame means for movement longitudinally of the support arm.
 9. The combination called for in claim 5 with the addition of an alignment bar; and means to secure said alignment bar to said film support means.
 10. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the pivot means comprises: a chin rest secured to said support means. 